• 
Question wording experiment (control)
• 
Method 1: Judges are chosen by the governor on the advice of legal
experts ______ and serve until retirement.
• 
Method 2: Judges are chosen by the governor on the advice of legal
experts and then – every few years - an ______election is held where
voters decide to retain the judge or not.
• 
Method 3: Judges run for election and then – every few years - an
_____ election is held where voters decide to retain the judge or not
• 
Treatment, add phrases: 1) “merit” 2) non-partisan, 3) partisan
Effects of Selection Method Cues on Reasoning about Judicial Independence
60
50
40
gov appoint
appoint/retain
candidate elections
dk
30
20
10
0
no cue
merit cue
nonpartisan cue
partisan cue
Effects of Selection Method Cues on Reasoning about Judicial Responsiveness
80
70
60
50
gov appoint
appoint/retain
candidate elections
dk
40
30
20
10
0
no cue
merit cue
nonpartisan cue
partisan cue
•  Support for merit system (AR)
•  "a non-partisan panel of citizens, legal
professionals and civic leaders would
recommend potential judges to the
governor. The governor would then
appoint a nominee from the list."
•  Prompt: “After each term, the public
then votes on whether a judge should
keep the seat, or be removed from
office.”
Favor Gubernatorial "Appointment"
70
60
50
40
support appointment
oppose appointment
30
20
10
0
no prompt
"public votes" prompt
Prompt: “After each term, the public then votes on whether a judge should keep the seat,
or be removed from office”
Public Opposition to Change: Gubernatorial Appointment
90
80
70
60
50
change so governor appoints
leave things and elect
40
30
20
10
0
WA 2000
WA 2006
AR 2008
Prospects for merit system
Favor gubernatorial nomination/appointment
90
80
70
60
50
fa vo r g ub er na to ria l no m in a ti on /a pp o in tm en t
40
30
20
10
0
nominate; retention
state (AZ)
nominate; nat
sample includes
retention states
appoint; election
state (AR)
appoint; election
appoint; election
change from elect to
state (WA), w merit state, no election cue
appoint (AR, WA)
cue
(AR)